PETALING JAYA: The Agong is not able to assist Dr Mahathir Mohamad despite the 1.4 million signatures the latter collected through the Citizens’ Declaration.

This, according to Prime Minister Najib Razak, was because the Declaration is unconstitutional.

“I have been informed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah that he had accepted the audience of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Chairman, Mahathir, at Istana Bukit Malut in Langkawi last week.

“In the meeting, he took note of the matters raised by Mahathir.

“However, he also explained to Mahathir that he cannot interfere in the efforts carried out by PPBM,” said Najib in a statement this evening.

He claimed that the King said any action should go through the proper channels, which are the Parliament and the general election to allow the people to decide.

Former Batu Kawan Umno Division Vice-Chairman Khairuddin Abu Hassan last week told FMT that the meeting between the Agong and Mahathir lasted over an hour.

While there, Mahathir was said to have handed the signatures he collected in support of the Citizens’ Declaration after months of a nationwide tour.

The Citizens’ Declaration campaign was launched by Mahathir and 40 others back in March this year, urging Malaysians to join in the quest to remove Najib via peaceful means.

The document, which was made available online and on hard copy, also sought institutional reforms and the repeal of laws that “violated fundamental human rights.”

The document, and the movement which initiated it, however, has largely been dismissed by Barisan Nasional leaders as a “futile effort” to topple a democratically-elected government. – FMT